If you’re a frequent coffee drinker, you probably value keeping your coffee beans as best preserved as possible. However, coffee beans can start deteriorating, very slowly, as soon as they make their way to your doorstep.
Remember, fresh beans make fresh coffee – and that’s something we could all use early in the morning. Here are eight tips to help you maximize coffee freshness and guarantee a delicious cup every time.
Easy Tips For Storing Coffee Beans
Store In An Airtight Vessel
Coffee beans lose their freshness when they’re exposed to oxygen. Be careful even when using an airtight container. This is because some ambient can still enter the container. Remember airtight does not mean air-free. Try to find a specially designed sealed container that can force oxygen out before locking the coffee beans in place.
Keep The Coffee Beans Away From Light
Coffee thrives in darkness. This is why we recommend using an airtight container that isn’t transparent. If you prefer using transparent glass jars, consider storing them in a cupboard or pantry instead of out in the open. While most coffee aficionados are still figuring out exactly what chemical changes are occurring in the beans, it’s wise to keep them away from light.
Buy Whole Beans
It’s no secret that ground coffee has a much shorter shelf life than whole beans. Many coffee drinkers hate having to grind all their beans every day and end up buying ground coffee to save them precious seconds. However, if you really want the most out of your cup of coffee, we recommend grinding it right before your brew to maximize the freshness of your coffee.
Buy Your Coffee In Smaller Batches
It’s tempting to buy coffee in bulk just so you won’t have to visit the grocery store every time you run out, but the best way to preserve the freshness of your coffee beans is to buy them in smaller batches. Most vendors of Coffee beans Melbourne offer weekly or monthly subscriptions so that your favorite coffee arrives at your door only when you need to restock.
Freezing Preserves The Flavour For Longer
The dilemma with coffee is that the aging process starts right after you’re done grounding it. Every passing day will result in stale flavors (slightly bitter) since the oils will start to fade. So the best strategy is to store coffee in the freezer. The freezer will lock the flavors to the coffee beans – as if they’ve been ‘frozen’ in time’ – until you remove them.
The coffee probably won’t taste as fresh as it was from day 1, but it will come pretty close.
Coffee Must Be Kept Away From Strong Odours
Coffee beans may absorb the scents of their surroundings. This can be detrimental if you don’t want your coffee beans to have unpleasant odors. This means you should store your coffee beans in a place away from strong smells. Note that certain wooden containers and airtight tins have strong smells within them that could leave your coffee with a bad taste.
Lastly, if you buy your coffee in bulk for personal consumption, consider repackaging it into smaller amounts so it can be unsealed as you go. Many coffee vendors sell their coffee in sealed bags that can come in handy because they are available in many sizes and can be labeled.
Coffee Should Be Kept Away From Moisture
For best results, the coffee should be stored in a dry location with low moisture levels. Excessive humidity can kick-start the deterioration process. Coffee beans that are exposed to moisture can develop a sour taste and aroma. This is one of the main reasons why some enthusiasts believe that it’s a bad idea to store coffee in the freezer or refrigerators.
However, there’s no harm in storing coffee in the fridge if they are kept in an airtight container that can block out the moisture.
Coffee Must Be Stored Away From Heat
Your coffee beans are vulnerable to heat and should be kept away from any sources that generate warmth. This is why it may not be a good idea to store coffee beans in the kitchen if you’re cooking food and the residual heat might make its way to the coffee beans.
Pro tip: Definitely don’t store the coffee near a window because it will expose your coffee to air, moisture, light, and heat – the four ‘killers’ of coffee beans.
Wrapping Up
Like most food stables, coffee beans will start to lose their freshness and flavor over time. The best you can do is slow down this process by taking the above precautions. Only grind them in small amounts and as much as you need them.
